The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-13
HARPER GETS TEN YEARS
HIS WIFE AND SISTER-IN-LAW
WEEPING IN COURT.

Jurors and Spectators Also Bathed in
Tears -- The Judge Orders the Con-
demned Taken to the Penitentiary
Without Delay and He Starts on in
the Afternoon.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 12.-The jury in the
Harper case this morning rendered a YER
dict of guilty, as charged in the indictment.
This meant guilty ON thirty-three counts
left for the jury to act upon. Judge Sage
sentenced Harper to ten years in the Ohio
penitentiary, and the judge ordered that the
Marshal convey him thither at once.
The greatest crowd yet gathered in the
corridors of the United States Court room
assembled this morning long before the time
for the assembling of the court. It was SIM
ply impossible for ladies TO get in at the
public door, and only those who had friends
to show them private entrances could reach
the court room. At 10 o'clock Judge Sage
appeared alone, Judge jackson having
been called to hold court in Covington.
Court was opened and seven minutes later
the jury filed in. AS soon as they were
seated Judge Sage asked if they had agreed
upon a verdict, and the foreman said they
had. The Judge directed the clerk to re-
ceive it.
HARPER's ENTRY.
In two minutes the Marshal entered, fol
lowed by Harper, looking pale and con-
cerned. Behind him came his wife, looking
as if she was borne up by faith that she was
to hear good news from the jury. Miss
Matthews, her sister, followed. When they
were seated the clerk took the sealed en-
velope, tore it open and read the fatal
words: I'VE the jury fad the defendant
guilty as charged in the indictment" Tnfs
meant guilty on all the thirty three counts
left for the jury to act upon. Mrs. Harper
sat as if transfixed but Miss Matthews found
relief in tears which she struggled with all
her power to repress.
Mr. Blackburn moved arrest of Judgment,
which the court Immediately oYerTuled.
Then District Attorney Burnett moved
for immediate sentence.
CUMULATIVE SENTENCES.
Judge Sage, in somewhat lengthy opin-
ion. stated the result of his investigation on
the question of cumulative sentences in a
case like this, and this gave some relief to
the suddenness of the blow upon Harperls
| family.
Mr.. Blackburn arose and said that the
defendant wished him to say that he had
nothing to add to what had been said, ex-
cept to thank the court for its fair and i'm
partial treatment, and ask that the court
be as merciful as the circumstances and the
law would permit.
AT 1925 O'clock the court directed Harper
to stand up. 1t was most distressing
scene The strong man stood with tears
coming down his cheeks, but no other sign
of emotion, save his blanched face.
SAD SCENE.
/ Behind his chair, with bowed head sat
his wife in an agony that had no better
| ha Of haY
hands. Tears did not come to her relief
Miss Matthews, was far more demonstrative
but still repressed her sobs, and in her own
distress reached over to try to comfort her
sister. So they sat while the court with
impressive soemnity recited the usual form
| of sentence saying the evidence left nc
doubt of the defendants guilt, and that the
offense merited the highest penalty of the
law, which would be used now; ten years
in the Ohio penitentiary, and that
the Marshal convey him thither at once
Still no outcry. Harper sat down, turning
to his wife Their lips met, her hands were
around his neck, his arms encompassed her.
The silence in the court room was awful
The Jurors wept Women and men all over
the court room were III tears
THE JUDGE RELENTLESS.
The silence was broken by Mr. Blackburn
making last request from the court That
was that the order for immediate 1mprlSon
ment be suspended, and he gave as his
reason that there was much business to be
attended to by Harper in which his wife was
closely concerned, and it would be exceed
ingly difficult TO attend it unless Harper could
remain here few days But the court was
relentless. Jugge Sage said there could be
| opportunity for his wife to see him in Co
| lumbus, and he repeated the order to the
Marshal to convey him thither to-day.
At 10:30 o'clock the jury was discharged
| and Marshal Urner conducted the defend
| ant to the Marshal's office, where they spent
| some time. Harper then went TO jail, where
| he spent the afternoon preparing for his de
parture His bedding, trunk and Other
| property were taken out and sent to his
house. His family joined him and he bade
them good by.
HIS wIFE'S FAREWELL.
Mrs. Harper fingered after the others had
departed, and her farewell was spoken with
him alone A moment afterward he ap
peared as unmoved as ever.
Shortly before o'clock a carriage ap
peared at the Jail into which Harper and
| the Deputy Marshals entered and were
driven to the Central passenger depot
| There was small gathering of people there
to see him enter tine train, but the deputies
avoided the front entrance and en-
tered the depot from the west end
| He was placed in parlor car Of the Mid
| land train in the smoking compartment ant
| the curtains drawn. Here Miss Matthew'S
| Joined him, accompanied by her fathee and
| her brother A crowd gathered about the
car and waited until the train moved out
| At 4:05 o'clock the great head of the one,
| famous Fidelity Bank, was on his way Il